The San Blas Battalion was an infantry corps created in 1823 in the port of San Blas, located in Nayarit, Mexico. It represents the patriotic pride of the soldiers who fought to the death for the independence of Mexico in the American invasion of 1847.
Its flag, which displays the inverted colors in order of red, white and green, became the official emblem of the National Museum of History, located in the Castle of Chapultepec, the same place where the decisive battle against the troops of the United States was fought..
His soldiers defended the fortress of Castillo de Chapultepec until the end in the war against the US Photo: DSFX
History
It was founded with the name of the San Blas Coast Guard Active Battalion on August 20, 1823 in the port of San Blas, made up of troops of soldiers prepared to make a difference.
Their first armed struggles date back to 1825, when they served as a coastguard team in the port of Mazatlán. When the American invasion began in 1846, they were already one of the most experienced and best-prepared infantry corps.
This recognition was due to its participation in the confrontations unleashed during the beginnings of Mexico as an independent nation, in the most advanced stage of transition of New Spain.
Among the historical calamities and errors of military intelligence that rigged Mexico in its independence struggles, the San Blas battalion was the exception, living up to its reputation as an efficient group on the battlefield.
This despite having several defeats, such as the one suffered in Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847, a few kilometers from Xalapa, where the dominance of the United States intensified and managed to advance on its way to the capital.
The San Blas Battalion went through several transformations during its trajectory. It had even been dissolved due to its already very veteran members, becoming a figure of the infantry regiment.
However, this changed on July 1, 1847, when the president and commander-in-chief of the Mexican army, Antonio López Santa Anna, reinstated it in a national decree. From then on it resumed its initial structure.
The battle of Chapultepec
Background
Towards the beginning of September 1847, in the midst of the US invasion, the country's military forces cautiously planned the ways to attack Mexico City and win the war between the two nations that began with the dispute over the territory of Texas, which belonged to Mexico.
One of the alternatives to deliver the final blow was to take the castle of Chapultepec, an area that would open the direct path to the capital and would bring them much closer to achieving victory by seizing many more regions than they originally planned.
This is how the invasion took on another dimension. Seeing the fragility of the Mexican army, the Americans reached beyond Texas and Alta California, taking advantage of the weakness of the military corps of their neighbors. The weapons power of the Americans or how they took advantage of unsuspecting squads were other key factors.
The Castillo de Chapultepec was no exception to other Mexican areas. It was precariously guarded by General Nicolás Bravo, a decorated veteran of the first independence struggles.
But despite his military record, the general did not have the resources or the men to resist a bombardment of the caliber of the Americans. He barely had 10 pieces of artillery and a few soldiers who accompanied him at the headquarters of the Military College, located in the same castle.
American offensive
The offensive of the United States Army began between September 10 and 11, 1847. The Mexican troops guarding the points of San Antonio de Abad and Niño Perdido were surprised and quickly eliminated.
Those led by General Winfield Scott attacked triumphantly in their first move to seize Chapultepec Castle. After concentrating a sufficient number of troops together with the heavy artillery, they began the armed confrontation early on the 12th in the morning.
The fire did not cease for the first 24 hours. Bravo was under siege and called for reinforcements to keep up the defense of the castle, which by the morning of September 13, after a day of battle, was almost completely destroyed.
Santa Anna, who in principle was also on the brink of defeat and even considered taking some of the few soldiers who defended Chapultepec, gave up on this movement and agreed to General Bravo's request. He sent 400 men from the Active Battalion of San Blas to defend the castle, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl.
However, the soldiers did not have time to reach the building. The US forces opened fire on them on the slope of the Cerro del Chapulín, before they could reach the top and plant themselves in the castle.
Historians refer to lapidary records: there were 400 Mexican soldiers from the San Blas battalion against more than 1000 troops from the United States led by General Gideon Pillow.
But beyond the obvious numerical and artillery disadvantage - the Mexican troops reused used weapons that they bought from Great Britain - the legendary San Blas battalion managed to suppress Pillow's forces at some point, forcing him to call for reinforcements.
The brave soldiers of the squad stood firm in the fight to the death, waging a fierce battle that immortalized them as the last bastions of resistance at Chapultepec Castle, inspiring the coming struggles for Mexican independence despite impending defeat. and the great loss of territory in favor of the United States.
flag
The heroic feat of the Active Battalion of San Blas reached its climax in the middle of the confrontation, when its commander-in-chief Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl imposed himself in front of the enemy lines to recover the flag of his squad, which had been lost after the violent attack by the army. of the United States on the slope of Cerro del Chapulín.
Xocoténcatl returned a few meters, picked up the precious object made of cloth and while he was picking it up from the ground, a burst of shots wounded him to death, receiving more than 14 bullet wounds.
It is said that, between the shooting, he always stood firm, encouraging his men to resist the armed struggle to the end, while falling on the battalion's flag that would be stained with his blood and would later mean a national symbol of struggle and patriotism of Mexico..
Since 1947, the flag is the official emblem of the National Museum of History, Castillo de Chapultepec, in which the vestiges of the blood of the appreciated Xocoténcatl can still be seen.
The Battle of Chapultepec continues to be commemorated as a heroic event, an example of military excellence and love for the homeland.
References
- The national flag, testimonies of the construction of the Mexican identity. Ministry of Culture of Mexico. cultura.gob.mx
- The flag of the San Blas battalion, article in the Zócalo newspaper, published on September 23, 2013.
- Xicoténcatl, a maximum hero of the American intervention, Juan Manuel Torrea, El Progreso printing press, 1929.
- The Battalion of San Blas, 1825-1855: brief chronicle of a heroic troop, Miguel A Sánchez Lamego, 1964.
- The battle of Chapultepec and Mexican cartography, official website of the Mexican government, gob.mx